After completely changing her career plans to study photography at North East Scotland College, Anna Horne said it was one of the best decisions she could ever have made.

The 49-year-old from Bridge of Don initially studied administration at what was then Aberdeen College before making her way into the world of work.

She resumed her studies in 2013 with the aim of finding a job in computing, but her election as president of the Aberdeen College Students Association took her career in an entirely different direction.

This led to her taking up more managerial roles, including regional officer manager at Aberdeen care and support charity Cornerstone.

But some years later, Ms Horne decided it was time for another change and returned to NesCol.

She said: “I loved Cornerstone, but I still felt I was looking for ‘my thing’.

“I became single and moved house and I decided I wanted to pursue my passion for photography and turn it into my career.”

Ms Horne enrolled in the college’s HND course in 2016 and said: “It has undoubtedly proved to be one of the best decisions of my life.”

While she entered the two-year programme dreaming of a career taking portrait photos, things soon changed.

She added: “I did want to have my own studio but because of the course I completely changed my mind and became really interested in architectural and corporate photography.

“The tutors’ passion and knowledge was amazing and if it wasn’t for them, the course would have been much harder and a lot less interesting and fun.”

Lewis Fraser-Henderson

Lewis-Fraser Henderson says his time at NesCol has helped him to achieve the “ultimate goal” he’s had his sights set on since he was 11.

The 20-year-old Aberdonian collected his HND in Social Sciences at the college’s graduation ceremony yesterday afternoon.